Study shows IS persecution of Christians not justified by Prophet Mohammed

Wed 16 Mar 2016

By Hannah Tooley

Islamic State (IS) persecution of Christians is not justified by the teaching of the Prophet Mohammed, according to a new study.

The research consists of previously untranslated writings by the Prophet Mohammed that can be used as "a kind of medicine to cure the diseases of Islamic extremism and Islamophobia."

Dr Craig Considine from Rice University in Texas, author of the paper, has spoken out, saying that the nation Mohammed envisioned featured civil rights and religious pluralism.

The study investigates the works of the Muslim prophet which were written between 633 and 632 AD.

According to the research, they indicate that Christians living within Arabic communities, also known as ummah's, were protected and looked after.

Speaking to The Independent newspaper he said that: "The research clearly shows that contemporary Islamic states that mistreat and discriminate against Christians cannot be justified in light of Prophet Muhammad's covenants."

Dr Considine said that finding these documents could ease the view of some members of the public who have not read the words of the Prophet.

He said: "His message radiates compassion and peace.

"This is what American society - and indeed the world - needs now more than ever."

The author went on to say that the documents were found in monasteries in different parts of the world, as well as discoveries made in books that had never been translated for a wider audience and that had not been printed for centuries.

"Scholars and believers are turning to them now because of the widespread violence against Christians in places like Iraq and Syria," he said.

Dr Constidine added: "The Prophet Mohammed did not want to inflict harm on Christians, nor interfere or encroach on their privacy or private property.

"For the state to give preference to one or more groups means devaluating citizens based upon their ethnic or cultural backgrounds."